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For the last year or so, the East Van Wine Academy has presented monthly "wine events that don't suck" at the legendary Waldorf Hotel on East Hastings.Over here at Vancouver Is Awesome, we're going to occasionally bring a little East Van Wine Academy to you, riffing on each month's theme — offering a portable, "home version" of our events where you can pick up a few bottles, invite some friends over, and maybe even learn a little something while enjoying plenty of cheer. |
In France’s Northern Rhône Valley, the Côte-Rôtie appellation is known for pioneering the blend. While the Syrah grape (also known as Shiraz) offers dark fruit like blackberries, blueberries and currants, it usually also brings forth things like earthiness, smoky black pepper, espresso and dark, dusty cocoa. All of that can be a little much, right? That's where the Viognier comes in. Usually anywhere from 5-20% Viognier will be blended in with the Syrah and then they get fermented together (in oak, concrete or stainless steel.) Viognier livens up the party, lifting aromatics with a floral touch and then nice, bright stonefruit like peaches, nectarines or apricots on the palate.
If you're looking to follow up on the blend, a good start is to try a Syrah and a Viognier on their own separately, so you have a handle on what characteristics each brings to the table.
Here a few of my favourite examples of "Côte-Rôtie" blends you can find around Vancouver.
As a warning, the blend isn't overly common and good examples aren't the cheapest wines on the shelf, but all of the following punch well above their weight:
D'Arenberg 'The Laughing Magpie' Shiraz-Viognier | McLaren Vale, Australia | $29.99 | BC Liquor Stores
All purple, plums and black licorice, from the sunny, cooler McLaren Vale region in South Australia.
Saint Cosme 'Côte-Rôtie' | Rhône Valley, France | $105 | Private Wine Stores including Legacy Liquor
When you go straight to the source you pay a premium but, my god, it'll knock your socks off.
Laughing Stock Syrah | Okanagan Valley, BC | $34 | Winery-Direct or Private Wine Stores
From lip-smackingly juicy Osoyoos fruit comes this local award-winner. How far BC has come!
Montes Alpha Syrah | Colchagua Valley, Chile | $24.99 | BC Liquor Stores
Chile's come a long way in quality and elegance, as illustrated by this lively orchard of berries and spice.
As mentioned above, the Côte-Rôtie blend is the focus of the current East Van Wine Academy, tomorrow night (Wednesday,) in fact. Not only are we trying the above wines and more, but Winemaker David Enns from the Okanagan's Laughing Stock Vineyards is bringing along a whole bunch of tank and barrel samples so attendees can try making their own blend, too!
There are a few tickets left, so hop to it if you'd like to swing by. The info's at EastVanWineAcademy.com
Otherwise, enjoy your own discoveries of this pretty whimsical, delicious blend.
